Carboxyhemoglobin elevation due to hemolytic anemia

J Emerg Med. 2007 Jul;33(1):17-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2006.10.004. Epub 2007 May 30.

Abstract

A critically ill man with drug-induced hemolytic anemia and hepatic failure was hospitalized at a private academic medical center in Seattle, Washington. Intravascular hemolysis with associated endogenous carbon monoxide (CO) production resulted in elevation of the patient's carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) level to as high as 9.7%. Serial measurements of the patient's COHb level were obtained and compared with other conventional measures of hemolytic activity. With the availability of new non-invasive measurement technology to detect COHb elevations, emergency clinicians are likely to see COHb elevation as a manifestation of hemolytic anemia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
  • Anemia, Hemolytic / blood*
  • Anemia, Hemolytic / drug therapy
  • Carboxyhemoglobin / metabolism*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Hematocrit
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Carboxyhemoglobin